Magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic properties of rare-earth ferroborates

作者：Kadomtseva A M^*; Popov Yu F; Vorob'ev G P; Pyatakov A P; Krotov S S; Kamilov K I; Ivanov V Yu; Mukhin A A; Zvezdin A K; Kuz'menko A M; Bezmaternykh L N; Gudim I A; Temerov V L

来源：Low Temperature Physics, 2010, 36(6): 511-521.

DOI：10.1063/1.3457390

The magnetic, electric, magnetoelectric, and magnetoelastic properties of rare-earth ferroborates RFe(3)(BO(3))(4) (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) as well as yttrium ferroborate YFe(3)(BO(3))(4) have been studied comprehensively. A strong dependence not only of the magnetic but also magnetoelectric properties on the type of rare-earth ion, specifically, on its anisotropy, which determines the magnetic structure and the large contribution to the electric polarization, has been found. This is manifested in the strong temperature dependence of the polarization below the Neel point T(N) and its specific field dependence, which is determined by the competition between the external and exchange f-d fields. A close correlation has been found between the magnetoelastic properties of ferroborates and the magnetoelastic and magnetic anomalies at magnetic-field induced phase transitions. It is found that in easy-plane ferroborates, together with magnetic-field induced electric polarization spontaneous polarization also arises below the Neel point. The ferroelectric ordering in ferroborates is of extrinsic character, giving rise to strong magnetoelectric coupling below T(N). Aside from the antiferromagnetic phase transition, the particulars of the structural phase transition accompanied by anomalies of the dielectric and magnetoelectric properties are examined for the first time. The character of the dielectric anomalies at a structural transition is analyzed for the first time on the basis of Landau's approach.

• 出版日期2010-6